Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Amesbury has the highest household income ($104k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hudson | Salem | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719Lowest |
44,795Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Hudson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9k 13% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Salem and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
| Salem and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597 10% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Salem | Amesbury |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.